Ladder



J. W. BELL A fil 28, 1936.

LADDER Filed Sept. 26

INVENTOR 144/5; 4 254;

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thisinvention relates to ladders and has particular relation to ladders ofthe flexible or collapsible type which may be encompassed in arelatively small bundle when not in use.

An object of the invention is to provide a flexible ladder which may benormally stowed away in a small bundle when not in use and which may bereadily and quickly extended and placed in position for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for quickly andeffectively securing one end of the ladder to a window casing, a wall,or the like so that it cannot become dislodged.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form offlexible ladder in which the steps remain horizontal at all times.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ladder of fire-proofmaterial.

Another object of my invention is to provide new, simple, inexpensive,and effective means for securing the steps of the ladder to thesuspending element.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a ladder of the abovecharacter, a means whereby one using the ladder is afforded a pluralityof hand-holds at all times while ascending or descending the ladder.

Other and further features and objects of my invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosedseveral exemplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding,however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a ladderconstructed according to one embodi- 'ment of my invention as it appearswhen secured in place against a wall. The wall is shown partly insection and partly in elevation.

Figure 2 is a View in perspective showing the upper portion of a ladderconstructed according to one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing one form of meansemployed for securing the steps of the ladder to the suspending element;and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the step portion of a ladderconstructed according to another embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, and3, ladders constructed use of intermediate devices.

according to my invention will probably find many uses, as for instanceas -flre escapes, as ships ladders, and for use in construction work andthe like. It is desirable that; these ladders be sufficiently strong tohold several persons at one time 5 and yet be capable of being folded upinto a small space when not in use. They must provide ample supportingsurfaces and afford convenient hand-holds for the users. They must becapable of being quickly attached and placed '10 in condition for use.They are preferably of fireproof material so that they may be used wherethey might be subjected to the action of fire,

chemicals, salt water, and the like.

I preferably employ four suspending elements 15 for holding the steps ofthe ladder in spaced relation and preferably engage the upper ends ofthese suspending elements to a snap fastening device so that thesuspending elements may be secured to a suitable support in a minimum of20 time.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Ipreferably employ rectagular plates I 0 for the steps of the ladder.These plates are provided with oval hand-holds 5 H extendinglongitudinally at the center of the steps. Each of the steps is providedwith an opening I 2 at each corner thereof of sufficient diameter inorder that suspending elements I 3 may pass through the openings.

I preferably employ chains for the suspending elements l3 because oftheir flexibility and heat resisting quality. In constructing the ladderthe chains l3 are passed through the openings ll of a plurality ofplates Ill, the number of plates de- 35 pending on the desired length ofthe ladder and the spacing of the plates. When the plates have beenproperly spaced, as desired, locking devices such as the narrow U-shapeddouble pins [4 are engaged over the two ends of the plates with the 40pins passing through the adjacent links of the chains l3 and the ends Maof each of the pins are bent up and over the side of the plates,adjacent to the other ends of the respective pins so that the pinscannot be withdrawn. 45

In constructing the ladder I preferably employ only two chains, one ateach end of the steps, and pass each chain up through one set ofopenings l2 in plates l0, through the eye I600 of a snap hook I 6, andback down through the openings 50 I2 in the respective plates l0 whichopenings are adjacent to the first set of openings. In this way thechains themselves carry the load, without the The loops of the chain arepreferably locked on the eye l6a by 55 through the links of the chainsadjacent and below the eye lfia. The snap hook I6 is of the usualconstruction which employs a hook I61) and a spring I6c for closing theopening of the hook.

When the ladder is not in use it may be stowed away in a canvas or paperbag or the like, but when it is desired to use the ladder, as forinstance in escaping from a burning building, the snap-hook is engagedto an eye or other fastening which has been provided in the building forthe purpose, and the ladder thrown out of the window. It is then, ofcourse, ready for use. I have illustrated, in Figure 1, how a ladderconstructed according to one embodiment of my invention may be used inescaping from a building. The concrete wall and floor of a. building areindicated at 21 and the window and window ledge indicated at 22 and 23,respectively. The eye I8 is preferably secured to the inner face of thewall 2|, and it is apparent that when the ladder is thrown out of thewindow the steps Ill take their proper horizontally extending positionand are supported by the chains l3. Since the length of the chains abovethe first step I0 is the same the steps of the ladder will always beproperly held in the horizontal planes.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated another embodiment of my invention inwhich a rectangular frame 3| of steel bar or the like is employed as astep and in which the four chains 32 are engaged on the step by passingthe bar 3| through the means of bolts or rivets H, which are passedproper links of the chains and then closing the bar by welding it toform a rectangular step. The

chains 32 may be held in their proper position by any suitable fasteningmeans as, for instance, by welding them in place or by providing spacersfor holding them in the proper position.

Although I have described several specific embodiments of my inventionit is apparent that modifications may be made by those skilled in theart. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a flexible ladder, a plurality of steps having openings in each ofthe corners thereof and a plurality of chains passed through theopenings and means for securing the chains in place in the stepscomprising substantially rectangular pins passed through the links ofthe chains and about the steps. 1

2. In a flexible collapsible ladder, a plurality of step-s havingopenings in the corners thereof, a plurality of chains passing throughsaid openings, and fastening means for holding the steps in a spacedparallel relationship on the chains comprising narrow U-shaped pinspassing through links of the chains adjacent the steps, over and. underthe steps, and having one end of one leg of the U-shaped pins bent upand over the side of the steps adjacent the end of the other leg of theU-shaped pin so that the pins cannot be withdrawn.

JAMES W. BELL.

